Charlesworth forced to overlook Dwyer

HOCKEY: No Jamie Dwyer, no problem. That was Kookaburras coach Ric Charlesworth's attitude after being forced to
overlook the five-time World Player of the Year for their upcoming inaugural
World League men's hockey finals campaign in India.

Dwyer on Monday was among a host of big names missing from Charlesworth's
18-strong squad for next month's Delhi tournament to avoid burnout ahead of a
huge 2014 that will also feature the World Cup, Commonwealth Games and
Champions Trophy.

Apart from Dwyer, 2011 World Young Player of the Year Matthew Swann, Athens
gold medallist Rob Hammond and double Olympic
bronze medal winner Fergus Kavanagh were omitted.

However, Charlesworth still backed world No.2 Australia to emerge triumphant in
the January 10-18 event after welcoming back 2004 gold medallist Mark Knowles
(ankle) and London Olympian Kieran Govers (hamstring) from injury.

Charlesworth said another consideration before omitting his big names was their
involvement in the elite Hockey India League (HIL) which begins immediately
after the World League (WL).

In all, 24 Kookaburras players will strut their stuff in the HIL.

"I believe that this team can win it (WL), although we are missing several
players for a range of reasons," Charlesworth said.

"There's a load issue with some of the senior guys in particular, who, if
selected, would then have eight weeks in India.

"The World League Finals will give us an opportunity to look at some of
those less experienced players."

Among those are Daniel Beale, Tristan White, Tyler Lovell and Aran Zalewski.

Beale returns to Delhi where he recently captained the Australian under-21 team
the Burras at the Junior World Cup.

The World League finals features the world's top eight teams.

The Kookaburras are in pool B with world No.5 Belgium, Olympic silver medallists
the Netherlands and No.11 Argentina.

Their campaign starts against Belgium on January 10.

Pool A features hosts India, Olympic
champions Germany, England and New Zealand.

The Hockeyroos made the recent women's WL finals tournament decider recently in
Argentina, losing 5-1 against Olympic
champs the Netherlands.

The AOC is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation, committed to the development of youth and sport. It is our responsibility to select, send and fund Australian Teams to the Olympic Games.

This is achieved by the support of our sponsors, contributions from the Australian Olympic Foundation (AOF), fundraising at corporate events and the backing of State and Territory Governments who donate to our Olympic Team Appeal.

The Australian Olympic Committee thanks all of our partners for their generous support of the Olympic athletes.